Isaiah , Sarah Barry
A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Passage: Isaiah 56:1~12  
Key verse: 7
Salvation for Others
56 This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice(A)
and do what is right,(B)
for my salvation(C) is close at hand
and my righteousness(D) will soon be revealed.
2 Blessed(E) is the one who does this—
the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath(F) without desecrating it,
and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 Let no foreigner(G) who is bound to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”(H)
And let no eunuch(I) complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”
4 For this is what the Lord says:
“To the eunuchs(J) who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant(K)—
5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls(L)
a memorial(M) and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name(N)
that will endure forever.(O)
6 And foreigners(P) who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister(Q) to him,
to love the name(R) of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath(S) without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain(T)
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices(U)
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.(V)”(W)
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather(X) still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
God’s Accusation Against the Wicked9 Come, all you beasts of the field,(Y)
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10 Israel’s watchmen(Z) are blind,
they all lack knowledge;(AA)
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.(AB)
11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;
they never have enough.
They are shepherds(AC) who lack understanding;(AD)
they all turn to their own way,(AE)
they seek their own gain.(AF)
12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!(AG)
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even far better.”(AH)
9 Come, all you beasts of the field,(Y)
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10 Israel’s watchmen(Z) are blind,
they all lack knowledge;(AA)
they are all mute dogs,
they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.(AB)
11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;
they never have enough.
They are shepherds(AC) who lack understanding;(AD)
they all turn to their own way,(AE)
they seek their own gain.(AF)
12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!(AG)
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
or even far better.”(AH)
Cross references
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Ps 11:7; S Isa 1:17; S Jer 22:3
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Isa 26:8
- Isaiah 56:1 : S Ps 85:9
- Isaiah 56:1 : Jer 23:6; Da 9:24
- Isaiah 56:2 : S Ps 119:2
- Isaiah 56:2 : S Ex 20:8, 10
- Isaiah 56:3 : S Ex 12:43; S 1Ki 8:41; S Isa 11:10; Zec 8:20-23
- Isaiah 56:3 : Dt 23:3
- Isaiah 56:3 : S Lev 21:20; Jer 38:7 fn; Ac 8:27
- Isaiah 56:4 : Jer 38:7 fn
- Isaiah 56:4 : S Ex 31:13
- Isaiah 56:5 : Isa 26:1; 60:18
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Nu 32:42; 1Sa 15:12
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Isa 43:7
- Isaiah 56:5 : S Isa 48:19; 55:13
- Isaiah 56:6 : S Ex 12:43; S 1Ki 8:41
- Isaiah 56:6 : S 1Ch 22:2; Isa 60:7, 10; 61:5
- Isaiah 56:6 : Mal 1:11
- Isaiah 56:6 : ver 2, 4
- Isaiah 56:7 : S Isa 2:2; Eze 20:40
- Isaiah 56:7 : S Isa 19:21; Ro 12:1; Php 4:18; Heb 13:15
- Isaiah 56:7 : Mt 21:13*; Lk 19:46*
- Isaiah 56:7 : Mk 11:17*
- Isaiah 56:8 : S Dt 30:4; S Isa 1:9; S 11:12; 60:3-11; Eze 34:12; Jn 10:16
- Isaiah 56:9 : Isa 18:6; Jer 12:9; Eze 34:5, 8; 39:17-20
- Isaiah 56:10 : S Isa 52:8; 62:6; Jer 6:17; 31:6; Eze 3:17; 33:7
- Isaiah 56:10 : Jer 2:8; 10:21; 14:13-14
- Isaiah 56:10 : Na 3:18
- Isaiah 56:11 : Jer 23:1; Eze 34:2
- Isaiah 56:11 : Isa 1:3
- Isaiah 56:11 : S Isa 53:6; Hos 4:7-8
- Isaiah 56:11 : Isa 57:17; Jer 6:13; 8:10; 22:17; Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11
- Isaiah 56:12 : S Lev 10:9; S Pr 23:20; S Isa 22:13
- Isaiah 56:12 : Ps 10:6; Lk 12:18-19
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. My salvation is close at hand (1-8)
God's saving hand is extended to anyone who grasps it in faith. Those whose human conditions seem to make salvation impossible are the very ones God is seeking. The Jews regarded all foreigners as objects made for destruction; and eunuchs were like dry trees, without fruit or hope in the world. But if any man binds himself to the Lord, he will not be excluded from God's love and blessing. God wants all people everywhere to love and obey and worship him. God's people must be a kingdom of priests for the world. They seek the lost and bring them to God's house, so that the Lord's house may be a house of prayer for all nations.
2. Shepherds who lack understanding (9-12)
Even if men are called 'God's people' and 'Israel's watchmen,' if they don't care about God and ignore God's desire to bring all people to himself, they are not really God's people.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making even dry trees fruitful. Help me to obey you and bring others to you.
One Word: A house of prayer for all people